A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1400, 1456-1626, 1695
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Unwis(e, -wys(e, adj. (adv.). Also: -wyis, -vys(e, -uys(e, -wyce, wnwys(e, -wyce, -vyse, onwis, -wyse. [ME and e.m.E. unwis (a1175), unnwis (Orm), vnwys (c1290), unwise (a1300), OE unwis; Wis(e adj.]
A. adj. Lacking in wisdom or judgment; foolish; ill-advised, misguided. Also proverb. Also const. to (til) do something.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints v 290.
Al tha that mad sacrifice Til mawmentis, as folk vnwyse a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxvi 736.
A man, vnhappy & wnwyse, Dalf vpe his [sc. the King's] graf be nichtirtale 1456 Hay I 302/20.
Quhen princis prayis for unworthy personis … the Pape or princis that he wrytis till will hald him for ane unwis prince a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1073.
Than war I woundir vnwis, To purchese proffit for pris, Quhare schame ay euer lyis a1500 Henr. Fab. 579.
I wes vnwyse [Bann. vnwyis] that winkit at thy will, Quhairthrow almaist I loissit had my heid a1500 Henr. Fab. 1588.
Thir lytill myis ar … Wantoun, vnwyse [Bann. vnwys, H. wnwyse] without correctioun a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 2259.
Wnwys c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xiv 59.
Vnwyce c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. i 21.
Thai glorifiit Him nocht as God … bot … vanysit in thare thouchtis, and the vnwise hert of thame was mirkit c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. ii 20.
And traistis thi self to be … a techeare of vnwismen, a maistere of yonng childir 1527 Douglas Corr. 122.
Giff I wald presume to be so bald or foilhardy, nocht followand the futsteppis of wysmenn … I mycht be … haldin rycht unwys a1568 Scott xxxi 29.
As a fule vnwyce So sall he fair a1578 Pitsc. II 65/26.
I belief thair be nane so wnvyse that will mak marchandice witht ane Frincheman or ony wther wnknawin stranger 1596 Dalr. II 397/2.
Sum notable clattireris quha … steirit vpe the rude peple … with thair gukit, vnwyse and glaiket preichings 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Baro.
Petrus Pithœus … writis that Baro signifies ane baird, fuile, or vn-wise man. Quhais opinion I cannot gudlie approoue 1622-6 Bisset II 162/16.
Unvyse(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxii 702.
To mak sacrifice Til ydolis we [w]are onwyse 1533 Gau 32/18.
Thair onwis hartis war blynditcompar. 1695 Douglas Corr. 286.
I wish you had condescended on eney of the onwiser perticulers in thes acounts that they might heue bene helpt for the fewtarproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 323.
Child wnwyce gaid upon the yce, child wilie gaid bye(2) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxi 747.
Thai reputyt hym as man vnwise Til hym til haf ony office 1622-6 Bisset II 173/10.
Beand ane rasche and suddan prince unvys to governe
B. adv. Unwisely, foolishly. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 78.
He wrocht vnwise, allace! throu Lucifeir, Quhilk causit him to dissobey his king
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"Unwis adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/unwise>
